What is a National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature you might ask? Besides my dream job, it’s a position that Jon Scieszka held the past two years for. The ambassadorship was created by the Library of Congress to “raise awareness of the importance of young people’s books as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people”. (LOVE IT!). Scieszka’s platform (platform cracks me up-it’s like a congressional candidate or beauty contestant) was to reach reluctant readers.

The books he has authored are certainly a good example of books that do reach out to reluctant readers, as well as readers of all ages and forms! From Knucklehead to The Stinky Cheese Man, Seen Art to Time Warp Trio, it’s nearly impossible tobe a parent or elementary teacher and be unaware of Scieszka’s books. His tongue-in-cheek humor keeps me chuckling. Even his website, Jon Scieszka Worldwide (tagline: Facing tomorrow’s challenges today!) will have you chuckling.

Check out his annual report or any of his other graphics.
Check out his Guys Read website.
You’ll also find a link to the Superhero Supply Store in Brooklyn. If you haven’t heard of the Superhero Supply Store, come back tomorrow to read a post about it, 826 Valencia, and TED awards.

Scieszka’s LA Times Article“It’s All Good!” has a great run down of kids’ books from his tenure. Great list of books to add to your TBR list!

Maybe starting a Guys Read Field Office should be on the 2010 to-do list…hmmm…..

Another category of books I love is cookbooks!I received this new cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond, and love everything about it! It has great wit and humor, great photographs, and great recipes! Check out her great blog/website. Don’t you love the graphics? It doesn’t hurt (except our waistlines) that my dear hubby also loves cookbooks and cooking. My love used to be only baking cookbooks, but it has really expanded in the past couple years.

I used to be a good candidate for Clean Sweep. I like to think I’ve made a lot of progress in the past couple years. Throwing things away from my classroom, donating my classroom library when I left fourth grade for this current position, donating my stash of patterns and fabrics that date back to my teen years. For many years (actually most) I was one of those teachers who held onto 24 baby food jars, the half skein of yarn, the last little bit of glitter, because I never knew when I might need something like that. (I suspect a lot of teachers are hoarders after spending thousands of our own dollars over the year on items for the classroom. Raisins for math lessons, seeds for science, books to help one more student fall in love with reading, blah…blah…blah).

Unfortunately for my husband, I was also one of those types at home as well where I would keep every single— stitch of clothing that my children had outgrown from birth until just two years ago (I pat myself on the back for only keeping one clothing items from their infancy); every craft/hobby that I was convinced I was going to get back to one of these days (cross stitch, scrap booking, knitting, etc.); greeting card we had received for our wedding, birth of our children, or a birthday; books from my childhood. You get the idea. Some of you sympathize and others of you are just plain frightened.

I have the voice of Peter Walsh from Clean Sweep in my head telling me I don’t need to hang onto the ceramic Cocker

Spaniel my grandmother made for me when I was little and she lived at the Ohio Masonic home. That guy would say that it’s the memories of my grandmother that count, not a ceramic dog. Still, I find it hard. Peter Walsh and my mother are arguing in my head.

I’m wrapping said ceramic dog up for my husband’s white elephant gift exchange. Last week’s white elephant gift exchange was still in the moving tub from when we moved into our current home more than eleven years ago. I was pregnant and throwing up when we moved in and continued to throw up everyday until my daughter was born. Somehow those eleven years have passed in a blur.

We are getting ready to move in a couple weeks and one of the many good things about moving, is that it really does give me a chance to Clean Sweep my house. We aren’t going far-just from out in the township/country back into the village which is where we lived when we first got married. I’m also giving myself a mandatory blogging break for the two weeks of holidays/packing that are fast approaching.

While I am excited about getting rid of detritus, the weak part of my brain argues with me that I am being wasteful. If I feel myself weakening, I tell myself I can always call fellow teaching colleagues who are known for their spartan like lack of junk and let them grouch at me. They don’t have the charming accent of Peter Walsh and certainly won’t be as patient with me.

Here’s a few examples of a crazy things I’ve found since beginning to clean sweep:

Turns out I never finished Breaking Dawn. I stopped on page 700 of 754. WTH? Do I just read the last fifty pages or do I need to reread it since it’s been so long. Maybe I don’t even bother.

My viola is in the basement and it hasn’t been played since 1983. Do I honestly think one of my children will ever want to play it?

Throwing away art projects from when my kids were three isn’t the same as throwing them away, even though it feels mean and bad.

If you aren’t familiar with Scaredy Squirrel, you need to make his acquaintance. Check out my new Scaredy Squirrel puppet! I LOVE him. Now if I could only figure out how to make him wearable to perch on my shoulder like a parrot. I would love to walk around with my pal Scaredy on classroom visits.

There is no way a Siamese cat who thinks he is a chihuahua is NOT going to make you laugh. His sisters, Mama June bug Jones, and his gang of Mexican Chihuahuas are also very fun and colorful characters.

It’s hard for me to say, but my favorite line might be from book 3 ,” Skippyjon Jones did his very best thinking outside of the box.” (complete with an illustration of him outside a litter box!)

I probably have already mentioned that I stood in line forever to get the author’s autograph at NCTE, only to have the line cut off with the lady in front of me. Grrr…

Nonetheless, it did not stop me from buying the newest Skippyjon Jones or laughing at the videos on his new website. Readers of all ages will be amused by his books. A great last minute book choice.

This was my first Sarah Dessen book, but it certainly won’t be my last. I LOVED along for the ride (personalized and

autographed from ALAN : ) and found myself thinking about the characters and story long after finishing the last page.

Growing up with two competitive professors for parents, it’s no wonder that Auden becomes a “mini-adult” quite young. Able to gain their attention with only her academic accomplishments, Auden didn’t have much time for friends, riding bikes, or normal childhood past times. After graduating high school, she decides to spend the summer with her father and her step-family: new step-mom and brand new baby sister. Yearning for a quiet summer, that allows time for reading textbooks ahead of fall university classes, Auden is in for a rude awakening.

Her father is still is selfish as ever, and uncomfortable scenes from her own childhood are being played out again with another mother and child. Not only did she not anticipate feeling like a third wheel in her father’s home, she also did not anticipate the sympathy she has for her young step-mother Heidi or new step-sister Thisbe.

One of Auden’s coping techniques as a child was avoiding going to sleep. If she could stay awake, her parents would not fight. It was after she went to bed, that their anger and bitterness spilled out. Still an insomniac, Auden meets another night owl, Eli. Unlikely friends, Auden and Eli begin spending the summer nights together throughout the beach town of Colby. All-night laundromats with out of this world pie, 24 hour convenience stores, the beach sidewalks are where Eli decides they are on a quest to make up for Auden’s lost childhood.

Eli also comes with his own baggage that keeps him up at night. A former all-star biker, Eli is still struggling with the death of his best friend. Together, through their unlikely friendship, Auden and Eli start to heal and find there is a lot the daylight can offer them as well.